Mealy bugs (Dysmicoccus brevipes / Pseudococcus bromeliae):
Mealybugs infest commercial pineapple plantings, affecting pineapple production in several ways. The rapid spread of this malady in the field is largely due to the feeding habit of bugs. Symptoms first appear on roots which cease to grow, eventually leading to collapse of tissues. Feeding of Dysmicoccus species on pineapple produces a toxic effect called mealybug stripe, expressed as green or black striped areas. The most predominant symptom is wilting of leaves, commencing from leaf tips. Reddish-yellow colour develops in the wilting areas. Finally the plants rot and develop decaying suckers. Fruits developed are undersized. Ants of several species act as carriers of mealy bugs.
Spray quinalphos 0.025-0.05% or fenitrothion 0.05% or fenthion 0.05% or chlorpyriphos 0.05%. Care should be taken that the spray shall reach the base and also the sides of the plant. The plot should be kept weed free. For the control of mealy bugs, control of ants is a must. Hence apply carbaryl to control ants in its colonies in the farm.
Scale insects (Diaspus bromeliae):
The spraying of chemicals for the control of mealy bugs, mentioned above, will be sufficient for the control of scale insects.
KAU POP Recommendation for pest, disease and mosquito problems
To avoid any pest, disease and mosquito problems in pineapple, sufficient phytosanitory measures are to be adopted in the pineapple field.
- The field has to be kept weed free. If necessary, weedicides are to be applied for weed control. In newly planted areas, Diuron (Klass etc) can be applied @ 1 kg/ha in 600 litre of water, as a pre-emergent weedicide. The application will be most effective when done within one month of planting. In the existing crop, weeds in the interspaces can be controlled by the application of Glyphosate @ 0.8 kg/ha. Care should be taken that weedicides shall not fall on pineapple plants.
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For the control of adult and larval population of mosquitoes, spray or pour Chlorpyriphos insecticide (Hilban, Classic, Tricel etc) @ 0.05 % (2.5 ml of commercial formulation in one litre water) into the heart and leaf axils of the plant so that each plant gets at least 100 ml of the diluted spray fluid. This will also control the mealy bugs in pineapple. Mealy bug is a serious pest in pineapple causing yield reduction. If the mealy bugs are not controlled, it may lead to the infection of virus diseases in pineapple which will further reduce yield and increase crop loss.
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Avoid water stagnation in field. Drainage of water will prevent mosquito population also. Due to continuous raining, root rot diseases may be expected in some plots, where there is no proper drainage. If the diseases are wide spread, fungicides are to be applied on need basis. For this Mancozeb (Dithane, Hilthane, Indofil etc) @ 0.2 % (2 g of commercial formulation in one litre water) has to be sprayed or poured into the heart and leaf axils so that each plant gets at least 100 ml of the spray solution.
Both Chlorpyriphos and Mancozeb can be mixed and applied simultaneously, if necessary.
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